Responding to a bike store owner's objection to a proposed $25 road fee on over-$500 bicycle purchases, Orcutt argued that "the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed to be a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride."

Despite huffy statements that Kaminsky gathered from scientists, it's undeniable that a major cause of carbon dioxide is breathing and that we could have a dramatic environmental effect if we all just committed to cutting down a little bit. We should also remember that, as we proceed on the Columbia River Crossing, we're dealing with Washingtonians who understand this.

On the other hand, we should bear in mind that several human activities cause heavy breathing.